tralac received a request to assist Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to prepare for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) negotiations; specifically on tariff concessions and rules of origin. The training took place in Lusaka from 11-15 June 2018.

Participants came from the Ministry, the Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambian Development Agency, the Zambian Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the private sector and civil society.

Zambia’s current trade profile was examined; specific offensive and defensive interests were examined. The course also provided an opportunity to appraise the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Protocols on Trade in Goods and Trade in Services and the Annexes which have been concluded and legally scrubbed. 

Participants also considered the agenda for phase 2 of the negotiations, and what Zambia’s interests in the areas of investment, intellectual property and competition policy are.

Two participants from the course also participated in a tralac Geek Week (25-29 June) to continue with specific trade and trade policy analysis to inform Zambia’s negotiating strategy.